LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- State Sen. Nickie J. Antonio wasn’t surprised to see a recent CNBC story warning that nearly 40 percent of tenants are in danger of being evicted. The Lakewood representative said early on during the pandemic that she feared a wave of COVID-19-related evictions and foreclosures.
That’s why she and Columbus-based State Sen. Hearcel Craig (D-15) recently sent a letter to Gov. Mike DeWine asking for action after a federal moratorium on evictions and foreclosures expired last week.
“This pertains to everyone,” Antonio (D-23) said. “We know there are a lot of different clocks that are ticking. Our letter is directed at a statewide eviction freeze. We are only one of five states without one.
“It’s counterintuitive to be evicting people at a point when you’re telling them that they should stay home. We already have high numbers of people who are experiencing homelessness. That number is just going to go through the roof if we continue down this path of reinstating evictions.”
Earlier this year, Antonio and Craig introduced Senate Bill 297, which if passed would prohibit foreclosures and evictions while Ohio is in a state of emergency. So far, the legislation has only had one hearing.
The legislation would allow for exceptions in eviction cases if the tenants are the subject of a domestic violence protection order, convicted of domestic violence or are violating a domestic violence protection order.
“What I know is that the situation hasn’t changed for many families,” Antonio said. “In fact, it’s gotten worse. If we don’t figure out how to do something, I predict we’ll have tent cities in the middle of towns in many of our urban environments, rural areas and suburbs. People cannot continue not having income and be required to pay (rent or a mortgage).
“A national plan would be preferable, but at least a statewide plan indefinitely presses pause while putting money in the pocket of property owners, who have mortgages,” she said.
A related topic involves additional CARES Act funding. Antonio said many Ohioans have been using the federal funds to pay their rent and mortgage.
“Continuing the CARES Act makes more sense than anything else, because that money goes directly to property owners, who have mortgages,” Antonio said. “It’s a domino effect.
“If I pay my rent to the person who owns the building, they’re able to pay their mortgage. Everybody is OK. But the minute the machinery fails, we have a problem. We just believe that we’re setting up for making a public health crisis even worse by evicting people.”
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